Means for controlling the movement of a tool



A99 29, 1950 w. JoHNDRr-:w 2,520,316

MEANS EOE coNTRoLLrNG THE MOVEMENT 0E A Toor.

Filed Jan. 7, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 2 ATT RNEYS Aug- 29, 1950 w. JoHNDREw2,520,316

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A TOOL Filed Jan. '7, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 1 WiLBuR JoHNDREw ATTO RNEYS Aug. 29, 1950 w.JOHNDREW 2,520,315

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT 0F A TOOL Filed Jan. '7, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1950 MEANS FOR CONTROLLINGTHE MOVEMENT OF A TOOL Wilbur J ohndrew, Buffalo, N. Y. ApplicationJanuary 7, 1944, Serial No. 517,301

7 Claims. (Cl. 192-1/29) My invention relates in general to means forcontrolling the movements of a tool, and particularly to means forstopping the downward movement of the tool when it has reached apredetermined point in its travel, as for instance by contact with thesurface of a workpiece. While my invention may be adapted to the controlof the movements of any tool doing useful work, it is particularlyadapted to the control of the riveting tool of a riveting machine, suchas the anvil unit or bucking unit.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide means,controlled by contact of the working surface of a tool with theworkpiece for` stopping further movement of the tool.

Another object has been to loosely mount the tool so that the resultingrelative vertical movement between the tool and its supporting means maybe used to interrupt further movement of the tool.

Another object has been to provide an oscillating shaft actuated by alaterally movable rod at a predetermined point in the travel of the toolto operate a control switch.

Moreover, my invention contemplates the mounting of the tool for lateralmovement, and has for a further object to provide `means to guide thetool assembly in its lateral movement by surfaces carried by one only ofthe guideways, thereby insuring accuracy without having to accuratelyalign two separated guideways. i

Furthermore, my invention provides anti-friction support for the toolassembly during its lateral adjustment while maintaining the load andthrust surfaces in registration, and but slightly separated.

Moreover, it has been an object to provide spring pres-sed actuatingmeans carried `by the tool holder and controlled by the upward movementof the oating tool to actuate the Oscillating shaft.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the deviceshownin the accompanying drawings `of which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of a riveting machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the bucking unit of theriveting machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the switch control means.

4e is a fragmentary sectional front view thereof taken on line IV-V ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional plan view of the control means taken online V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar View taken on line Vl-VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the guide slipperfor the unitk andits` association with the cooperating parts.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of the guide slipper andanti-friction support for the bucking tool.

Fig. 10 is a modified form of actuating means for the oscillating shaft;and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of one form of electriccontrol circuitused in connection with my invention. Y

As hereinbefore stated, my invention is particularly adapted to thecontrol of the anvil or buckingtool of a riveting machine, and,therefore, in Fig. 1 I have shown a fragmentary portion of such machine.The machine comprises a bucking unit l5 and a riveting unit I6 coaxiallyarranged and provided with suitable mechanism for movement toward eachother when acting upon the workpiece 2Q. The mechanism for operating thebucking unit will be hereinafter described but the mechanism foroperating the riveting anvil is not shown or de-` scribed since it formsno part of the present invention. The machine has a housing 2l whichencloses the guideways 22 and 23 for the bucking p unit, to which myinvention is particularlyapplicable. i

These guideways are spaced apart and are preferably arranged parallel toeach other. The guideway 23 is preferably provided with a bearing groove24 and a coacting bearing surface 25,

hereinafter described. To the bottom surface of the base is secured theattaching flange 3| of the guide sleeve 32. The guide sleeve is providedwith a cylindrical bore 33 within which is slidably mounted a ram 34.The ram is prevented from turning within the sleeve by means of a key 351 which engages a keyway 36 formed in the ram. The ram is provided witha cylindrical bore 40 at the upper end of which screw threads 4l areformed for the reception of a ram screw 42. This ram screw is providedat its upper end with a thrust collar 43, and with a shaft portion Mextending upwardly from the thrust portion. The shaft portion isconnected to the shaft 45 of the motor by means of a tongue and grooveconnection 46 shown in Fig. 2. The upper end ofthe shaft is preferablysupported4 in an anti-friction with a recess 521 therebyproviding lowerledges or flanges 53 and upper ledges 'i3 A supporting block 54 ismounted in each of the recesses 52 and is provided with twoanti-friction rollers 55 which are engageable with theupper surface. ofvv the inwardly projecting leg 56 of the supportmg angle. Each of thesupporting blocks is .mounted for vertical movement upon the guidescrews 6D which extend up through the -lowerfledge 53"-of-.f thesupporting base to which they are suitably,

fastened. A spring cap 6 I. is secured to the upper end of each of theseguide screws, and a helical, spring-63h disposedk between eachoft-,thercaps and the surface of the block-forfurging'the ,blockVdownwardly to'force the rollers'in :contact with the supportingangles.

The bottom surfaces of the guideways 221andr-v 23 are, lof course,machined toform` bearingsu-rfaces' for 'the supporting` base 26'- wherrload; is'

applied to the unit. A floating slipper 64is;car; ried at one-ofthelateral edges of the..ba`se forY engagement with the bottomsurface-ofthe `guiclee; way 22-and a guide slipper65 is mounted at lthe'opposite-edge vofthe supporting base having a leg 66 for Contact withthe bottomsurface of the guideway 23;' f The-'guide-slipperis 'alsoproe' vided -With an upstandingyflangewlil;i'arra'nged preferably atlright angles tov the-ange,.66"for;

engagement with the vertical bearing surfacerof L the grooveIZli'rwhich' is Loppositethe .bearing sur-f faceg25r ofthe guid'eway.VGuiderollersl' I are,

provided forbearingcontact"with 'thegsurface 25; andthese rollersV are"mountedjgupon `the upper` surface-of the supporting base-262-v Bythis/correy struction itwill beseen that the; surface-25 and thebearing-surfaces of theA groove-24 'may-be machined and nished at theSametime-thereby Y insuring parallelism of'` these 'two unitW guidingsurfaces. By'providing' Yboth bearings on'onel .Y guideway,-thenecessity: of-having to4 align twOj separatedY guideways 'is avoided;TheY guide slip. per 65 is mounted in floating manner upona guidefstudl2which is screw threadedinto the ledge 'I3 ofthe supporting-base andwhich serves to guide the guide slipperv should thereY be anyv4lateralmovement thereof: At each-.endn of Vthe-v guide slipper there isprovided Aa compression SpringHill;y one end= of which engages adownwardly extending-flange l5 formed onv theslipper 65 and having itsother end-bearing againsta washer 861. By means `of these compressionsprings whichY lareheld'- Yinl ,placeA by bolts 16; the guidez slipperYis urged-inwardly 'Soi as to' cause, the-ange-'mto firmly bear onthesurface of, thegroove and-the rollers 'Hfto bedrawn againstA the bearingsurfaces.

From the foregoing it Ywillbe'obyious that when the unit`I5= is beingmoved` laterally to bring the tool inregistration, lthe entireunit'willbe supported lin resilient manner bythe anti-,frictionrollers55; When, however, the unithas come to the end of its lateralmovement 4andl the tool is fed downwardlyto bring it intoiaction, theup?. ward thrust produced upon the ,tool will serveA to force thesupporting base.; upwardly, thereby,

forcing the same againstv the bearing surfaces 01..v

the guideways 22' 'and 2,3. Itjisobv'iousthat the ro1le'rs'55are soadjusted that the co-acting sur` faces between the slippers and theguideways are separated only a few thousandths of an inch, so that thereis practically no lost motion when the weight of the unit istransferred.

A base plate Si is secured to the lower end of the ram 34 and an indexflange 32 is attached to ther plate and serves adjustably to hold anindex plate 831m position. A plate retaining flange 84 is secured to thebottom surface of the index plate S3 and is provided with oppositelyarranged parallel anvil ways 85. These ways are providedwithfretaining-lips YSllvfor engagement with the head .SI of the anvil32, The retaining lips are separated fromfthe surface of the retainingfrange a distance greater than the thickness of the anvilheadso'thatth'euanvil is permitted to have free verticalniovernent when its workingsurface contacts with the workpiece.

Mounted within an opening 93 of the index flangeis anactuating pinhavinga ange 65. The lower end of thel pin -is designed to contact withtheupper ysurfacecf the anvil head 6I, and the upper end '-of-the-pin isconical inform.

A bearing plate Ill@v is 'carried by the index ange l at theupper end ofthe opening 93- and serves to Vprovide'a bearing for the-upper end 'ofthepin-as-well as an abutmentv for the upper end f of a vhelical vspringIBL The lower endof this spring bearsagainstftheY-ilange 95 of Vthe Vpinserving to normally keepthe pinl pressed downwardly with itsange inengagement with a ledge HD2-'formed at the bottom of? the opening l93 inthe index harige,

' A push rod M35, 4which-ispreferably;square in crosssection or'of otherpolygonal shape is mountf ed in a lateralfgroove 164 formed in thebaseplateA 8l andextending. preferably from theV center of the-'base plateoutwardly yin radial direction to a point near its outer edge, The innerend of this rod is provided-with anV inclined surfaceVV |55forengagement-with the conical end 96` of the pin` 94,whereby verticalmovement of the pin will cause lateral m :ivement-of-theY rod. Theouter-end off-therod has an upwardly bent portionfID-whereby the lateral-movementrof the rod is caused -to actuate the control switchl IIS bymeans which-will now be described.

Arranged vertically along one-surface of the guide .sleeve is amountingplate II I, which `is suitably secured totheA sleeveyand to whichtheelements"y ofthe control means are secured. A control-v shaft H2 extendsupwardly in spaced relation with the mounting plate'and passes throughan anti-friction bearing H3 carried by a bearing plate H4 which is heldin place .by clipsI IIT. I

Thi'sish'af-tris preferablyjsquare in cross section and is notonly'supported by the bearing, but is aXiall-yzmovabletherethrough, Thecontrol shaft which in turn is carried by the ram 34y the shaft--together with the lever Il 6 androdIDSlwillbe 1 movedadownwardly withtheram and the shaftV IIS. Arrangedwill slide through the bearing below thebearing l I3 is a switch control lever |2|. This lever is formed with anupwardly extending bearing portion |22 which extends through the bearing||3 and which is held in place therein by means of a retaining ring |23.This lever is, of course, provided with an aperture |24 which fits andhas sliding engagement with the shaft l |2, whereby movements of the rodoperating lever I6 will be transmitted to the switch control lever atany point in the travel of the ram. The lever |2| is provided with anoperating screw 25, which engages the operating button |26 of thecontrol switch H0. This switch, as hereinafter described, is a normallyclosed switch and serves when operated to interrupt the circuit, to behereinafter described. A safety cam |30 is carried on the front face ofthe mounting plate l and is provided with an inclined face |3|. Theshaft ||2 extends upwardly a distance above the bearing plate ||4substantially equal to or slightly in excess of the amount of travel ofthe ram 34 and it is provided at its upper end with a switch operatinglever |32. This lever is clamped to the upper end of the shaft and isprovided with an actuating screw |33. This lever and screw are sopositioned and adjusted that should the ram be moved downwardly whenthere is no workpiece in position beneath it, the ram will be preventedfrom becoming forced out of the sleeve because of the continuedoperation of the ram screw for the reason that the screw |33 willcontact with the surface |3| of the cam |30 and cause the oscillation oftheshaft 2 and consequent operation of the switch l0.

Surrounding the control means carried by the mounting plate is a casing|34 comprising an upper section |35 and a lower section |36. The uppersection is carried by the mounting plate and is secured theretopreferably by attaching blocks |40. The lower section of the casing issecured to the base plate 8 l. The lower section |36 preferably overlapsthe upper section 35 in telescopic manner, so that `when the base plateis moved downwardly the casing parts will be moved relatively to eachother. A cover plate I4| is preferably secured to the bottom of the baseplate and serves to close the bottom of the casing.

A limit switch |42 is carried by the mounting plate l and serves tolimit the upward travel of the ram. The button of this switch isextended downwardly and is engaged by a limit switch screw |44 when theuppermost travel of the ram is reached. This screw is carried by thebase plate and is provided with a compression spring |55, whereby anyovertravel of the ram in coming to rest will be absorbed.

The rod operating lever H6 is provided at its outer end with a springscrew |45 (see Fig. '7) to one end of which is secured a tension spring|50, the other end. of the spring is carried by a stud extending fromthe surface of the mounting plate This spring is adjusted so as to causethe adjusting screw |29 carried by this lever to firmly bear against theend H36 ofthe push rod, thereby taking -up all lost motion between thepin 94 and the shaft.

Referring to the .modiied form shown in. Fig. l0, the push rod |52 isconnected to the anvil 92 by means of an actuating cam |53. This cam ispreferably made of flat material and it is mounted within an opening |54formed in the index flange |55. The cam is formed with a forwardlyextending leg |56, the upper surface of which bears against anoverhanging shoulder |60 formed in the aperture |54. Opposite the leg|56, the cam is formed with a leg |6| which normally bears on the topsurface of a ledge |62 also formed in the aperture |54. A helical spring|63 servesto keep the leg |6| engaged with the ledge |62, and at thesame time serves to keep the downwardly extending leg |64 substantiallyin contact with the upper surface of the head 9| of the anvil. The camis also provided at its upper end with a leg |65 which extends laterallyin the same direction as the leg |56. This leg |65 normally bearsagainst the inner end of the push rod |52. In this form the anvil ismounted for floating movement as in the form above described, and whenit is moved upwardly the leg |64 contacting the head of the anvil willpush the cam upwardly against the tension of the spring |63. Since theleg |56 is in contact with the shoulder |60, the cam will be caused tooscillate about the shoulder as a fulcrum point. This will serve toforce the leg |65 to the left as viewed in Fig. 10 and serve to push therod |52 outwardly to cause its upper end |66 to oscillate the shaft ||2through the medium of the rod operating lever ||6, as described above inconnection with the other form of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. l1 where I show the method of connecting myinvention in an illustrative electric circuit, |10 and |12 representmagnetically held contactors which are provided with solenoid operatingor holding coils I1| and |13, respectively. The contactor |10 isprovided with normally open contacts |14, |15 and |16, and the contactor|12 is likewise provided with normally open contacts |80, I8! and |82.The power lines are represented by the numerals |63, |84 and |85. Oneside of each of the holding coils |1| and |13 are connected to the powerline |85, current returning to. the power line |83 either through switch|42 or ||0, respectively, and through a manual double throw switch |86.The switch |86 has contacts |90 and |9| for operating the motor 30 tocause the ram to be operated upwardly or downwardly, respectively. Theline |83 is connected through normally open contacts |14 and |82 to theterminal |92 of the motor; normally open contacts |15 and |0l' areconnected to the terminal |93 of the motor; and normally open contacts|16 and |30 are connected to the terminal |94 of the motor.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when it is desired to movethe ram' downwardly, the hand switch |86 or equivalent means is moved tocontact terminal |9|. Current will now ow from line |86 over the closedcontacts of switch |86, through switch ||0 and holding coil |13 ofcontactor |12, thereby closing the normally open contacts |80, 8| and|82 and allowing current to flow from leads |83, |34 and |85,respectively, to the terminals |92, |93 and |94, respectively, of. themotor. The motor will thus be actuated to rotate the ram screw 42 tolower the ram 34 until the bucking tool is brought to bear upon thesurface of the workpiece, whereupon it is moved upwardly within theanvil ways 36 causing vertical movement of the actuating pin 94 orrocking movement of the actuating cam |53. Such movement, ashereinbefore described, causes the lateral radial movement of either ofthe push rods |03 or |52 and the subsequent oscillation of the controlshaft H2, thereby opening of the normally closed control switch H0, andinterrupting the flow of current through the holding coil |13, therebyallowing the respective terminals to fall open, which will cause themotor to stop. When the hand switch I 06 or other equivalent means isoperated to contact |90, the

conneotedf to thetpowerelines, the motorz Willy be operated.- adireetionotozelevatecthe rams; .If

the.upward-movement. of: theram; is not' nterrupted 4beforerithaszreached. the vupper endof its stroke,- thief. limit screw Il 45..will Contact .the limit g;

switch I 42, .thereby interrupting the, current; -to

the vmotor.through'ithe; ,contacter contacts q I 14, i

|15: and'. JISTWhCh Wllfalliopen When the holding -gcoilflfl 35isidefenergized.

Havinggthusndescribed; my invention,v what AI f claimffis:

1. .Means forrcontrolling. the: movement of Aa took-f1 comprisingv @areciprocating ram;V powers.

means `forreciprocating said ram,;a .toolcarried by said ramf andhavingv relative axial movement i With'respect thereto,.-anoscillatablyLmounted clon;-A

ramffor operativelyiconnecting said tool Withsaid.

shafft'and leven fmeanszcarried .by saidf. shaftf'ancl-i.-operated-byzsaid actuating means for .controllingf said .powergmeansfr-2. :Means forA controlling .the movementjof a took;l comprising. a f.reciprocating.-.;raIr1,-.` powers.

means for. reciprocatingl said ram,v a tool carried by said 11am: andivhaving relative axalsmovement; i.. withrespect thereto, acontrolshaiticarried by.

said'Y .ramf-.and `.having-pits; axis in .parallel spacedrelationuwittrithe .axis of.Y said ram, said shaftbeinglmovableiaxiallywith.said ram, a push rod y: movable laterally:withrespecti .to-.the .axis of 4said` ram.;said;rodfbeingicarrieclfloyxsaiclraml and hay.-4

ing 1.operativel.- connection-with saidY shaft, 'an ac.-tuati-ngzfmember carried-by. said. ram and, coacv'.

tively zengagedfwithsaid. toolzand said rod to`v` transmitmoviement of..the former to .the latter,

and lever. means carriedzbysaidgshaft for control.`

lingisaidi power.I means. f.

3.:-;Means ;for '..controlling ther` :movement ofl a tool;..comprising-areciprocating ram,1-.a guide sleevefiorzsaidi ram, power means for'.reciprocata ing said ram withinlsaidsleeve, a toolcarried by asaidefranirand; yhaving` relative axial.. movementwith:respect-fthereto; a control. shaft-'slidablysupportedfbyfsaiclasleeve andmovable axially'with saidramy-ga push rod.actuated :by saiclfY tool and operatively connected v:tot :saidi shaft,and; lever` means. icarriedy by said. shaftrfor controlling saidPOWeFmnSl 4.aMeans-1 Yfor .controlling the movement Vofsatool;,compris-ing;V 1a reciprocating ,ramp a guide orfygslidablyisupporting said ram, motor :if

meansior. reciprocating said ram,ga tool earriedg.I

by saidirzam andhaving relative axial movementI with respictfthereto, anoscillating control shaft slidably supported bysaid -sleeve andfmovableaxially-With.saidy ram,-a push rodcarrieolby saidV ranfrand movablelater-ally with `respectto the axissthereof, ,said rod havingioperativeconnectionswith .said sshaft, an actuating-member. car.l

leverz means `carried by; said. shaft for ,operating said. switch.means.

5.1-Means1ior: controllingfthe.; movement@ Lof a tool,fcomprisingqareciprocating ramnfa guide', sleeve fon slidably-g rimpportingsaid;ram,;; motor.v means fof recprocating ,saldar m; a `1100.1.carriedbysaid-ram and having,relative-axial movement withpyrespectgsthereto; `afcontrolfshaftslidably supported byfsaidisleeveandmovablefaxially wi thsaldra-m, switehmans i carried by` saidv sleeve for cont-rollingisa-idygmotor; actuatingy means oper.-

:,atively connectingsaidftooLWith said shaft, lever meansiarried; :byvsa-ielwshaft i, for; voperating ysaid r switchygcamgmeanscarried bysaid sleeve, aux,-

iliary.:` `lever;finneanjsg.,carried by; saidv shaft and engageablewith. saldi acamrwhen `the ram reaches. itheffend:- of` itssstrokeiA to:1interrupt 'the motor- 6.1Means. Vfor -controlling=the movement oi-atool compnising, a reciprocating vfram, powermeansioiireciprocatingsaldi-fram, a -tool carried `f by saidgramandhaving` relative-A axial ymovement l with respect thereto. a -controltshaftl movable axiall-yfwithisafid ram,fa push-grod-lcarried-by said#-ramfland=movable:,laterally-with respect to the@ axisythereofsaid:rod-having operative connec Ition-,withl saidshaft ,f and .formed -Withan inclined sunfaoev .at its :inner end, an; actuating pin vcarried r bysaid ramandihavinga rtapei-edpoint -engage-v able with theincline(il-surface V.cfg/said rod., saidV 1. pin;.-beingf,engageable-=-with said tool. Ifor movemen-t,tl1er. e.vvith,andvlever.` means lcarried .bysaict l 7. -Means rk:Eor3,controlling@unev-movenaentA of a A tool, comprisingg'a jreciprocating ram,..power'.

means torpreciprocating saidrama tool` `carriediby sad-ramfandthavingrelative axial movement... withfrespect -tlfreretoyd cont-rol. shaft,movable axially withsaid,ram;v=a push. r.od..carried vby i said.ram.;an,d having; operativeponnection with. said. shaft; ,said.rodbengmovable laterally with re-y spect :to the .axis ,of said ram,an` .actuating cam. carriedrzgby said, ram., andiunctioningfasva bell.`

crank i to Itransmit Ethe relative. movement of. said, tool. tousaidrod,anddeverfmeafnscarried bylsaid shafttfoncontrolling the power. means.WILBUR J OHNDREW REFERENCES CITED The Yfollowing'. referenoesf are ofrecord: in .the

file" of. lhis.: patenti: 1

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